Telephone system



July 30, 1940. H. SENGEBUSCH TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet FIG. 1

Q INVENTOR HANS SENGEBUSCH BY v ATTORNEY5.

July 30, 1940. H. SENGEBUSCH TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 2 E INVENTOR.

HANS SENGEBUSCH BY M 94m ATTORNEYS.

July 30, 1940. H. SENGEBL ISCH TELEPHONE SYSTEM 3 Shee ts-Sheet 3 FiledJune 12, 1937 FIG. 8 v

. INVENTOR.

HANS SENGEBUSCH mpfinulug ATTORNEYS.

pulses in response to a single actuation thereof.

Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES TELEPHONE SYSTEM Hans Sengebusch,Villa Park, Ill., asslgnor to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1937,Serial No. 147,831

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to signalling apparatus, and moreparticularly to improvements in impulse transmitting devices of the typeadapted to transmit a plurality of series of im- Several types ofimpulse transmitters of the form noted have been developed for use intelephone substations in lieu of the conventional impulsing devicerequiring repeated operations of a finger dial for the transmission ofthe plurality of series of impulses corresponding to a subscriberstelephone number. The purpose of using a device of this type is toenable the subscriber to dial predetermined and frequently calledsubstations by a purely mechanical operation and without consulting adirectory to determine the telephone number identifying the substationbeing called. Such devices are of particular utilitywhen installed atthe desk of any person who has frequent occasion repeatedly to callcertain other subscribers. In the usual impulse transmitter of thischaracter, there is provided, in addition to the impulsing springs ofthe conventional dial actuated impulsing device, a pair of impulsecontrol springs connected in shunt with the impulsing springs andcontrolled by the mechanism of the device in a manner such that theimpulses produced by a continuous operation of the impulsing springs areeffectively transmitted over the line extending to the substationembodying the device only during predetermined intervals. Theseintervals are so related to the impulsing rate that successive series ofimpulses, each containing a predetermined number of impulses, aretransmitted during each effective time interval. Thus, the device may beconstructed so that the plurality of series of impulses making up anysubscribers telephone number may be transmitted therefrom by a singleactuation thereof. Shunt springs are also usually provided forshort-circuiting, during the periods when the impulse springs areactive, the transmitter and receiver embodied in the associatedsubstation. For the purpose of control-' ling the operation of theimpulse control springs, there is usually provided a plurality of disksmounted on a rotatable shaft, each of which corresponds to a particularsubscribers telephone number. Arranged to cooperate with these disks toactuate the impulse control springs is an element which may take theform of a cam rider for following preformed camming depressions andprojections formed around the periphery of the disks, these depressionsbeing suitably formed to determine the impulses comprising each seriestransmitted from the device. ly to associate the cam rider with anyparticular disk, thereby to select the substation to be called, the camrider is arranged to be moved over the disks to a position for actuationby a selected In order selectivedisk during rotation of the latter.Normally, the operating shaft upon which the disks are mounted isrestrained in a home position by locking means adapted to be moved toits unlocking position through the actuation of a lever which alsofunctions to store energy in a power spring for driving the mechanism.Release of the above-noted locking means is obtained only upondepression of the actuating lever to its extreme off-normal position,thereby to prevent false operation of the device and the transmission ofimpulses which would result in false routing of a call.

While prior art impulse transmitters of the general type brieflydescribed in the preceding paragraph are reasonably satisfactory inoperation, they are open to several objections with respect to theconstructional features thereof, in that they usually embody anextremely intricate operating mechanism comprising a plurality ofelements which require frequent adjustments. Moreover, these elementsare not positively interlocked to prevent premature operation thereof,resulting in false impulse transmission.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmechanism for locking .positively the control disks against movementuntil the actuating lever of the device is completely depressed, whichmechanism functions not only to release the gear train following therelease of the actuating lever, but also operates to control the shuntcontact springs for shortcircuiting the transmitter and receiver of thesubstation in which the device is incorporated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved andexceedingly simple mechanism for retaining positively the controlelement for the impulse control springs in a set position immediatelythe control disks start to rotate.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improveddevice of the character noted, which is of simple, economical, ruggedand compact construction and. is entirely faithful in operation.

The objects as set forth above are in part attained in accordance withthe present invention by providing an impulse transmitting device of thegeneral character briefly described above, wherein the control elementfor the impulse control springs is mounted on a carriage, adapted to bemoved over the disks, thereby operatively to associate the element withany selected one of the disks, and means cooperating with the carriageand responsive to operation of the mechanism actuating member areprovided for locking the carriage in a selected position during rotationof the disks. More specifically, this locking means comprises a memberincluded in the carthereof, a second member having teeth adapted toengage with the teeth of the carriage member to lock the carriage in anyset position, and means responsive to the operation of the actuatinglever for moving the second-mentioned member to bring the teeth thereofinto engagement with the teeth of the carriage member.

In accordance with a further feature of the in-- vention, a pair oflatching elements cooperating, respectively, with studs projecting fromdifferent gears of the gear train included in the mechanism areprovided; one of which functions as the locking member for restrainingthe gear train in a position corresponding to the normal position of theoperating shaft, and the other of which functions to control thetransmitter and receiver shunt springs and to restrain the first arm inits operated position following a slight preliminary movement of thecontrol disks.

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the specification taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a telephonesubstation having embodied therein an impulse-transmitting deviceconstructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is a top perspective view, partially in section, illustrating themechanism of the device embodied in the circuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is atop view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side crosssectional view of the mechanism, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a top view of the device when fully assembled; Figs. 6, 7, and8 are views illustrating certain details of the mechanism shown in Figs.2, 3, and 4; and Fig. 9 illustrates a slightly modified arrangement ofcertain of the elements included in the mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings, there is illustrated thecircuit of a subscribers substation adapted to be incorporated in anautomatic telephone system and having embodied therein an impulsetransmitting device constructed and arranged in accordance with thepresent invention. In brief, the circuit comprises a telephonetransmitter l0 adapted to be connected in series with a telephonereceiver across the line conductors l2 and I3 by means of a hook switchl4 of conventional form. Bridged across the line conductors l2 and I3,in series with a coupling condenser I5, is a bell or signal device l6.For the purpose of transmitting impulses from the substation there isprovided a finger dial-impulsing device ll of conventional form whichincludes impulsing springs l8, shunt springs l9 for shortcircuiting thetransmitter l0, and receiver I during the impulsing periods, and afinger hole dial, not shown, for controlling the springs l8 and I9.Arranged for alternative use with the impulsing device I1, is a secondimpulse-transmitting device indicated generally at 20, which includesimpulsing springs 2|, impulse control springs 22 adapted to shunt theimpulsing springs 2|, and shunt springs 23 for short-circuiting thetransmitter l0 and receiver continuously during the transmission of aplurality of series of impulses comprising the several digits making upa subscribers telephone number. This device also includes a mechanismfor controlling the springs 2|, 22 and 23, which mechanism isillustrated in Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, and described in detailhereinafter.

The apparatus embodied in the substation circuit as illustrated in Fig.1, is with the exception of the impulse-transmitting device 20, entirelyconventional in form and its mode of operation is well understood in theart. A detailed description of the operation of the apparatus is,therefore, deemed to be unnecessary and is omitted in the interests ofbrevity.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, there areillustrated the details of the impulse transmitting device schematicallyindicated at 20 in Fig. 1. The mechanism of this device, which isenclosed within a housing 24 comprises a rocker arm 25, pivotaliymounted at 28, for actuating the impulse control springs 22 and arrangedto be operated by a control element 29, pivotally mounted on a shaft 21supported on a carriage 28. This carriage comprises a member 29, havinga return bent portion 3|! slidably engaging a rod 3| fixedly mountedbetween two frame members 32 and 38, and a member 84 secured to themember 29 by a screw 35 and having downwardly bent arms 36 drilled toprovide bearing surfaces for the shaft 21. The other end of the carriagemember 29 is slidably supported on a second rod 31, also extendingbetween the frame members 32 and 33, by means of a pair of brackets,indicated at 40, integral with and bent upward from the member 29 ateither side thereof. As thus arranged, the carriage 28 is slidablymovable along the rods 3| and 81 relatively with respect to a pluralityof control disks indicated at 4|, thereby selectively to position thecontrol element 26 for actuation by any desired one of these disks. Itwill be noted that the rocker arm 25 is provided with an upper edgewhich is substantially coextensive with the disk assembly, thereby to.permit the element 25 to be positioned opposite any one of the diskswhile maintaining an operating connection between the two elements 25and 26. As pointed out in greater detail hereinafter, each'of the disks4| corresponds to the telephone number of a particular subscriberssubstation, and for convenience in moving the carriage 28 therebyoperatively to associate the control element 26 with a desired one ofthese disks, there is provided an arm 42 fixedly mounted on the carriagemember 29 and extending through a slot 43 cut in a cover plate 44. Thisarm has mounted thereon, by means of a screw 45, a finger piece 46. Alarge opening 41 is formed in the top of the housing 24 to permit readyaccess to the mechanism enclosed therein, and the cover assembly forthis opening includes, in addition to the plate 44, indice bearingplates 48 and 49 suitably marked to identify the telephone stationscorresponding to the disks 4|, transparent plates 50 and 5| overlyingthe plates 48 and 49, respectively, and a top cover plate 52 providedwith windows 53 and 54 overlying the indice bearing plates 48 and 49.The last-mentioned plates, together with the transparent plates 50 and5| overlying the same, are secured to the cover plate 44 by screws 55and 56, and the cover plate 44 is, in turn, secured to the housing 24 byscrews 51 and 58. The top cover plate 52, which preferably is chromiumplated to provide a pleasing appearance, is secured to the housing 24 byscrews 59 and 60. Cooperating with the indice marked on the plates 48and 49, to indicate the telephone number corresponding to the one of thedisks with which the control member 26 is operatively associated, is adouble ended pointer 6|, provided with a slot, not shown, snuglyenclosing the arm 42.

In order to limit the movement of the carscrews 63 and 84, and havingangularly extend-' ing extremities 65 and 68 which are adapted to rideover the top edges of frame members 32 and 33, respectively. For thepurpose of exerting a slight restraining force on the carriage, in eachposition thereof when the control element 25 is operatively associatedwith one' of the con- I trol disks 4I, there is provided a roller 61suitably mounted on the free end of a powerful fiat spring 68, whichspring is aflixed to the carriage member 29 by screws 69. This roller isadapted to be forced by the spring 68 into roller slots, not shown,formed at spaced intervals along the length of the rod 31. As indicated,the spring 68 is mounted on the bottom of the carriage member 29, andthe roller 61, supported thereon, extends through an aperture I9 cut inthe carriage member 29. The roller slots noted are so spaced along therod 31 that, when the roller 61 is fully projected by the spring intoany one thereof, the carriage 28 stands in a position such that thecontrol element 26 is accurately positioned to be actuated by one of thecontrol disks 4I. By this arrangement, an indication is given to theoperator of the impulse transmitting device that the carriage isaccurately located in the desired position each time the carriage 28 isset in a new position.

The control disks M are mounted on a shaft II in an improved mannerdescribed more particularly hereinafter, and the shaft 'II is, in turn,supported in bearings I2 and I3 mounted respectively on the framemembers 33 and 32. This shaft is arranged to be driven from a drivingelement comprising a gear segment I5 fixedly mounted on a sleeve I4rotatably mounted on a shaft I4. The gear train embodied in themechanism also includes a pair of gears 16 and 11 mounted on the shaftII and gears for driving a cam I8, which cam forms the actuating elementfor the impulsing springs 2|. Thus, the element I8 is fixedly mounted onone end of a shaft I9, journaled in bearing surfaces provided in theframe member 32 and a bracket 33' mounted on this frame member, and asmall gear 89 is mounted on the other end of the shaft 19, which lattergear meshes with a large gear 8I carried by a shaft 82. Also mounted onthe shaft 82 is a small gear 83 meshing with the gear I7. The shaft 82,upon which the gears 83 and 8| are mounted, is journaled in bearingsurfaces provided in the frame member 32 and an intermediate framemember 84.

For the purpose of driving the above-described gear train, there isprovid d a power spring 85 having its convolutions enclosing the drivingshaft I4 and one end 88 thereof fixedly secured to the gear segment I5in any suitable manner. The other end 81 of the spring 85 is held in anangularly extending slot provided in a member 89, which latter elementforms one bearing for the shaft I4 and also a part of means foradjusting the tension in the power spring. The last-mentioned means alsoincludes a second annular ring 89 mounted by screws 99 and 9I on theframe member 33 and provided with an opening through which the shank 88'of the member 88 extends, and a set screw 92 threaded into the ring 88for holding the member 88 in any set position. The lower end of theshank 88' is squared to accommodate a suitable tension ad- Justing tool,not shown. As described in detail hereinafter, with the elements of themechanism inactive, the gear segment 15 is restrained against movementin a clockwise direction, and, consequently, the tension in the spring85 may be ad- Justed by the simple expedient of loosening the set screw92, rotating the member 88 in the proper direction to increase thetension in the spring, and tightening the set screw 92 to hold themember 88 in its adjusted position.

In order to maintain the speed of the gear train constant during itsoperation to drive the shaft II and the cam shaft 19, there is provideda small speed governor, of the well-known centrifugal type, whichincludes fly balls 93 enclosed within a raceway 94 and mounted on ashaft 95 driven from a gear 96, mounted on the shaft I9 and meshing witha worm 91, formed on the shaft 95. As shown, the shaft95 is supported bysurfaces provided in bearing caps 98 and 99, mounted respectively on theextending brackets I99 and MI. These brackets are integral with andpressed outwardly at right angles from the frame member 32.

Normally, the gear segment 15 is restrained by the power spring 85 inthe position shownin Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and in order totension this spring for the purpose of driving the gear train describedabove, there is provided an actuating member I92 mounted by a cap screwI93 and a cylindrical member II9.on the end of a stub shaft I94. Thestub shaft I94 is journaled in a bearing member I95 mounted on the framemember 32 and is held in its assembled position by a retaining ring I96mounted on the end thereof. This actuating member is provided at itsfree end with a finger piece I 91 for convenience in depressing the sameto transmit power to the spring 85. The power transmitting connectionbetween the member I92 and the spring 85 is of the universal type andincludcs a rod I98 fixedly mounted on the stub shaft I94 and extendingthrough a slot I99 provided in the left annular portion of thecylindrical member II9. At its free end, the rod I98 is provided with asocket which forms a part of a ball and socket connection III betweenthis rod and a second rod I I2. The other end of the rod II2 terminatesin a loose pin and strap connection N3 the pin of which is mounted onthe gear seg- During the operation of the actuating member I92 totension the power spring 85, the shaft II must be restrained in its homeposition, corresponding to a predetermined angular position thereof,thereby to prevent the disks M from rotating. To this end, the gear I6is not keyed tothe shaft II, but is mounted thereon for free rotationthereabout. This gear is formed integral with a ratchet wheel II5, whichcooperates with a pawl II8 pivotally mounted at H! on the gear 11, totransmit driving power to the lastmentioned gear from the power spring85 during the return movement of the actuating member I92, and followingthe actuation thereof to its fully depressed position. This pawl isbiased into engagement with the teeth of the wheel II5 by a spring II8,mounted on the gear I! by means of screws II9. With this arrangement,and when the actuating member I92 is depressed to tension the spring 85,the gear I5 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 4, andthe pawl H6 rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel I I5. When theactuating member I02 is released following the full depression thereof,the pawl IIB engages an associated tooth of the wheel II5 to transmitpower from the spring 85 to the gear train, thereby to cause rotation ofthe control disks 4|.

As pointed out previously, it is necessary for satisfactory operation ofthe device to restrain the control disks 4| from movement until themember I02 is operated to its fully depressed position. In accordancewith one feature of the present invention, this is accomplished byproviding the improved mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs.4 and 6. This mechanism includes a latch element I20, cooperating withthe gear 8| to hold the shaft H in its home or predetermined angularposition during the operation of the actuating member I02, to tensionthe power spring 85. The latching element I20 is pivotally mounted on ashaft I2I, supported between the frame member 32 and the frame member84, and has formed at one end thereof a finger I22 for engaging a studI23 projecting from the side of the gear iii. The latching element I20is normally biased by a spring I21, to

rotate in a counterclockwise direction'from the position shown in Fig.4, thereby to position the finger I22 in the path described by the studI23 during movement of the gear 8i. With the elements of the mechanismoccupying their respective normal positions as shown in Fig. 4, suchthat the finger I22 engages the stud I23 to hold the gear train againstmovement and when the actuating member 102 is operated to its fullydepressed position, the latching element I 20 is rotated to disengagethe finger I22 from the stud I23 by means comprising a stud I24 mountedon the gear segment 15 and arranged to engage the free extremity I25 ofthe latching element I20. Movement -of the latching element I20 in acounterclockwise direction is limited by a second latching element I26,also pivotally mounted on the shaft I2I, and biased by means of thespring I21 in a direction for rotation in a clockwise direction. Thissecond latching element I26 has a cam rider portion I28 formed along anedge thereof which cooperates with a stud I29 projecting from the sideof the gear 11 to move the latching element I26 in a counterclockwisedirection, thereby to permit the latching element I20 to rotate underthe force of the spring I21 to a position wherein the finger I22 ispositioned to be engaged by the study I23. At its right extremity thelatching element I26 is provided with an offset portion I30, which isadapted to engage the lower edge of the frame member 32 to act as a stopfor limiting the movement of the element.

As shown in greater detail in Fig. 6, the second latching element I26not only functions to control the operation of the first latchingelement I20, but also functions to control the position of the switchingdevice comprising the springs 23 for short-circuiting the transmitterand receiver of the substation, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the elementI26 is provided with a finger I3I having mounted thereon a cap I32 ofinsulating material, which cap cooperates with springs I33, I34 and I35,included in the spring assembly 23. As will be pointed out with greaterparticularity hereinafter, the arrangement is such that, when thelatching element I26 is rotated in a clockwise direction from theposition shown in Fig. 4, the cap I32 is moved from engagement with thespring I33, so that a connection is made between the spring I34 and anassociated spring I36, and between the spring I35 and an associatedspring I31, thereby to shortcircuit the transmitter and receiver, of thesubstation in the manner described above. Obviously, the number ofsprings included in the assembly 23 will depend upon the type ofsubstation circuit utilized. In the spring assembly shown, four contactsprings are provided, only two of which will be utilized in thesubstation circuit illustrated in Fig. 1. These springs are supported onan extension I38 of the frame member 32 by means of a bracket I39, apair of screws I40 and I4I, and insulating members I42 interspacedtherewith.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, there are illustratedthe details of the improved assembly for retaining the control disks 4|on the shaft 1|. This assembly comprises a disk supporting and aligningstructure, mounted on the shaft by a screw I43, and including a diskaligning member I44, extending substantially parallel with the shaft II,and disk spacing members I45 spaced axially along the shaft. Thealigning member I44 is supported on a pair of end members I46 and I41,which also have clamped thei'ebetween the disk spacing members I45,interspaced with spacing washers I40 snugly enclosing the shaft 1|. Asshown in Fig. 7, each of the disk spacing members I45 is provided with aslot I49, the sides of which fit snugly over the shank of the screw I43to prevent rotation of the spacing members with respect to the shaft II.The diameter of the spacing washers I48 is made equal to the width ofthe disk aligning member I44, this width also corresponding to the widthof a slot I50 formed in each of the disks 4i, so that when any one ofthe disks is slipped onto the shaft, with the slotted portion thereofsnugly straddling the sides of the aligning member I44 and one of thespacing washers I48, it is firmly restrained against relative movementwith respect to the shaft H.

For the purpose of insuring an exact and even spacing of the disks alongthe shaft 1I, each of the disks is provided with apair of preformedresilient tongues I 5| and I52, pressed outwardly from the same side ofthe disk and positioned on opposite sides of the slot I50. These tonguesare adapted to engage the side of one adjacent spacing member I45 as theassociated disk is slipped onto the shaft 1I.

As pointed out previously, provisions are made for preventing the disksfrom being improperly assembled on the shaft H. To this end, each of thedisk spacing members I45 is provided with a slot I53 having an openingI54 ofiset with respect to the plane passing through the axis of theshaft II and the axis of the aligning member I44. Each disk has a studI55 projecting from one side thereof, which is arranged to slip througha slot opening I 54 of an adjacent spacing member during the positioningof the disk on the shaft 1I, only in the event the disk is properlydisposed with respect to the shaft. Thus, if it is attempted to assembleany one of the disks on the shaft with the disk reversed from its properposition, the stud I55 carried thereby will engage one of the projectingfingers formed on either side of the slot I53 of an adjacent spacingmember I45 to prevent the disk from assuming its fully assembledposition.

In order to retain each disk in its assembled position on the shaft 1i,there is mounted on each of the spacing members I45, a spring I56 havingfingers I51 and I56 arranged to grip the stud I55 carried by a diskpositioned adjacently thereto. Each of these springs occupies the spacebetween its supporting spacing member and the adjacent control diskformed by the pressure of the tongues I5I and I52 against the spacingmember. and is mounted on a small stud I59 projecting from itssupporting spacing member. For the purpose of facilitating the removalof the disks, each thereof is provided with a small aperture I60,adapted to accommodate the end of a disk removing tool.

The arrangement for mounting the control disks upon the shaft and forpreventing improper assembly thereof, described above, is disclosed andclaimed in applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 196,621, filedMarch 18, 1938, which is a division of the present application.

The impulse control springs 22 are mounted on a bracket I60 extendingfrom the side of the frame member 33 and are suitably insulated fromeach other in the manner shown. As pointed out previously and shown inFigs. 1 and 4, these springs are arranged to be actuated by the controlelement 26 through operation of this element to rock the rocker arm 25.Such actuation is accomplished by cutting out portions of the peripheryof each of the disks to form cam projections I6I interspaced with camdepressions I63 which cooperate with a cam follower finger I62, formedas an integral portion of the control element 26. With this controlelement positioned over a disk cut as shown in Fig. 7, and when thisdisk is rotated in a clockwise direction, the finger I62 alternatelydrops into the depressions I63 and rides over the projections I6I torock the arm 25 back and forth against the bias produced by certain ofthe resilient springs included in the assembly 22. It will be observedthat each time the finger I62 drops in one of the depressions I63, thesprings of the assembly 22 are in their contact break position, suchthat the impulse springs 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 1, are no longershort-cir'cuited. Thus, by properly relating the length of thedepressions I33 and the projections I61 to the rate at which the impulsesprings 2I are opened and closed by the camming element 18, any desirednumber of impulses from 1 to 10 may be caused to be transmitted duringeach period when the finger I62 is riding in one of the depressions I63.Hence, by suitably forming the depressions I63 and the projections IBI'around the periphery of any particular disk, this disk may, duringrotation thereof, be caused to control the springs 22 in a manner suchthat aplurality of series of impulses, corresponding to the telephonenumber identifying a particular subscribers substation, are transmittedfrom the device.

It will be apparent from the description in the immediately precedingparagraph that if the control element 26 is positioned over one of thecontrol disks M, and this disk is started in operation to cause thetransmission of the impulses included in the telephone numbercorresponding to the disk, the element 26 should be incapable ofmovement with respect to the disks until the plurality of series ofimpulses comprising the telephone number have been completelytransmitted. In according with a further feature of the invention, thismode of operation is insured by providing, as shown in Fig. 3, a memberI10 piv-' otally mounted on a rod I1I, extending between and supportedby the frame members 64 and 63,

which member is normally restrained from engagement with the carriage 26and is released during the initial movement of the actuating member I02from its depressed position to its normal position, lockingly to engagea portion of the carriage 26. More specifically, this member is providedwith teeth I6I extending along the upper edge thereof and throughout theaxial length of the shaft II occupied by the control disks 4|. Theseteeth are adapted to engage with teeth I12 extending along an upwardlyprojecting portion I13 of the carriage member 29. With the elements ofthe mechanism occupying the position shown in Figs. 3and 4, the lockingmember I10 is restrained in a position such that the teeth thereof areout of engagement with the teetn I12 by means comprising an arm I14,mounted on the member I10, and cooperating with a stud I15, projectingfrom the side of the end member I41 included in the disk assemblystructure as shown in Fig. 8. When, however. the shaft 1| is started inoperation to rotate the disks 4|, the stud I15 rides from beneath thearm I14, so that the locking member I10 is rotated under the force ofgravity to bring the teeth I6I into engagement with the teeth I12.

Thus, the carriage 26 and the control element 26 carried thereby arelocked against movement relative to the disks 4| until such time as theshaft H has been rotated through a complete revolution to again bringthe stud I15 into engagement with the arm I14.

In the operation of the device as described above, and with themechanism thereof fully assembled as shown in Fig. 3, the telephonenumber of a desired subscrilziers substation may be selected by thesimple expedient of grasping the finger piece 46 and moving the carriage26 until the pointer 6| stands opposite a desired subscribers telephonenumber, in which position the control element 26 is operativelyassociated with the control disk corresponding to this telephone number.Following the positioning of the control element 26, the actuatingmember I02 is operated to its fully depressed position, thereby totension the power spring 66. During this operation the gear segment 15is rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown inFig. 4 to drive the gear 16. This gear rotates about the shaft H, withthe pawl II6 riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 5. If theactuating member I02 is released before it is fully depressed, the geartrain is held against movement by virtue of the engagement of the fingerI22 of the latching element I20 with the stud I23 carried by the gear8|. When, however, the actuating member closely approaches its fullydepressed position, the stud I24 engages the extremity I25 of thelatching element I20 to rotate this latching element andv move thefinger I22 from engagement with the stud I23. Thereafter,

and when the actuating member I02 is released,

the power spring transmits power through the segment 15 to rotate thissegment in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4.Immediately this occurs, the pawl II6 engages one of the teeth of theratchet II5 to initiate the movement of the gear train. During theinitial movement of this train, and the consequent rotation of thecontrol disks M and the camming element 16, the stud I26 rides frombeneath the camming portion I 28' of the second latching element I26,and the stud I16 rides from beneath the arm I14 carried by thelockingmember I10.

Hence, the last-mentioned member is released 5 2| are operated by thecamming element 16 to and moves to bring the 'teeth IOI thereof intoengagement with the teeth I12, thereby to lock the carriage 28 againstfurther movement with respect to the control disks 4|. Substantiallysimultaneously, the second latching element I26 is rotated by the springI21 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4, torestrain the first latching element I20 in its operated position, and toactuate the cap I32 from engagement with the spring I33 of the springassembly 23. This last-mentioned operation causes the shunt springsincluded in the assembly 23 to close and complete paths forshort-circuiting the transmitter i0 and the receiver II as shown inFig. 1. After a slight continued movement of the segment 15, the studI24 moves away from the end I25 of the latching element I20, and as aconsequence, the last-mentioned element is held in its operated positiononly by the second latching element I26. The rotation of the disks H andthe camming element 18 continues, this rotation'being at a substantiallyconstant rate of speed determined by the setting of the fly ballgovernor described previously. Thus, the impulsing springs provide aconstant number of circuit interruptions per second. Not all of theseinterruptions are transmitted over the calling line, however, since thesprings included in the assembly 22 are opened and closed in accordancewith the depresslons I63 and the projections I6I oi the particularselected control disk 4| corresponding to the called subscriber'stelephone number. Thus, the plurality of series of impulses making upthis telephone number are caused to be transmitted over the callingline. It is pointed out that during such transmission the latchingelement I26 is continuously held in its operated position so that theshunt springs included in the assembly 23 are maintained closed.

When the last impulse of the last series of impulses has beentransmitted, the gear segment 15 approaches its normal position, and thestud I29 rides into engagement with the camming projection I28. Thereresults the rotation of the latching element I26 in a counterclockwisedirection to permit the latching element I20 to be restored to itsnormal position wherein the finger I22 intersects the path of rotationof the stud I23. Almost immediately thereafter, the stud I23 engages thefinger I22 to stop the movement of the gear train. vWhen this occurs,the camming finger I62 of the control element 26 rests in engagementwith the top of the disk aligning member I44, so that the springsincluded in the assembly 22 are in their make positions. During thefinal movement of the gear train the stud I15 rides into engagementwiththe arm I14 to actuate the locking member I10 thereby to disengagethe teeth I9I from the teeth I12 and unlock the carriage 28. Thus, theelements of the mechanism are restored to their respective normalpositions, and the device is in readiness for further use.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 9 of the drawings, there isillustrated a modified arrangement for controlling the operation of thement 26 first drops off the left edge of the disk aligning member I44.This permits the rocker arm 25 to rotate slightly in aclockwise-direction and there results the engagement of the springs I34and I35 with the springs I36 and I31, respectively, thereby toshort-circuit the transmitter and receiver of the associated substationin the manner described previously. This first movement of the arm 25does not open circuit the, impulse control springs I38 and I39 and,hence, the impulse springs 2I are held shortcircuited. Shortlythereafter and when the finger I62 drops into the first depression I63,arm 25 is caused further to rotate in a clockwise direction by the forceexerted thereon by the springs I34, I35 and I39 and, as a consequence,the spring I is moved from engagement with the spring I38. As a result,the short circuit is removed from theimpulse springs M and impulses aretransmitted from the device over the calling subscriber's line. When thefinger I62 rides onto the next projection I6I the arm 25 is rocked in acounterclockwise direction only the required amount to again close thesprings I38 and I39without opening the springs I34, I36 and I, I31. Theimpulse control springs I38" and I39 are thus opened and closed inaccordance with the depressions I63 and the projections I6I. Theenumerated shunt springs I34 to I31 are, however, maintained in theircontact make positions continuously during impulsing and until thefinger I 62 again rides onto the nonactive portion of the disk having aradius equal to the radius of the outer surface of the disk aligningmember I44. This occurs only when the complete series of impulses hasbeen transmitted and results in the sustained closure of the impulsecontrol springs I38 and I39, and the movement of the springs I34 to I31', inclusive, to their open circuit positions.

While there has been described what is at .present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made in the structure thereof and it iscontemplated in the appended claims to cover all such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element in one direction, an actuating member operable from oneposition to a second position to rotate said driving element in theopposite direction, without rotating said shaft, thereby to store energyin said spring, a latching element adapted to restrain said shaft in apredetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said shaft only when said actuating memberis fully operated to said second position and released, whereby saidshaft is driven by said spring through said driving element and saidgear train, said last named means being operative to hold said latchingelement in its operated position only during the preliminary movement ofsaid shaft, and additional means for holding said'latching element inits operated position until said shaft is returned to its predeterminedangular position.

2. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with one of the gears of said train to restrain said shaftin a predetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is operated to said second position and released, whereby saidshaft is driven by said spring through said driving element and saidgear train, a second latching element cooperating with a second of thegears included in said gear train, and means including said secondlatching element for restraining said first named latching element inits operated c position.

- 3. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising,in combination, a. shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with one of the gears of said train to restlain said shaftin a predetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is operated to said second position and released, whereby saidshaft is driven by said spring through said driving element and saidgear train, a second latching element cooperating with a second of thegears included in said gear train, means including said second latchingelement for restraining said first named latching element in itsoperated position, and means including said second gear and said sec ondlatching element for returning said first named latching element to itslatching position when said shaft returns to its predetermined angularposition.

4.A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with one of the gears of said train to restrain said shaftin a predetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member train to restrain saidfirst named latching element in its operated position.

5. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving ele- -ment, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with one of the gears of said train to restrain said shaftin a predetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is operated to said second position and released, whereby saidshaft is driven by said spring through said driving element and saidgear train,

a second latching element cooperating with a second of the gearsincluded insaid gear train, said second latching element normally beingrestrained by said second gear to oneposition and 1 being releasedduring the initial movement of said gear train to restrain saidfirst-named latch-' ing element in its operated position, and meansincluding said second gear and said second latching element forreturning said first named latching element to its normal position whensaid driven shaft returns to its predetermined angular position.

6. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train.including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with one of the gears of said train to restrain said shaftin a predetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to-release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is fully operated to said second position and released, wherebysaid shaft is driven by said spring through said driving element andsaid gear train, said last named means being operative to hold saidlatching element in its operated position only during the preliminarymovement of said driven shaft, additional means for holding saidlatching element in its operated position until said driven shaft isreturned to its predetermined angular position, a switching deviceoperable between two positions, and means including said last namedmeans for operating said switching device from one of its two positionsto the other.

'7. A mechanism for'use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a

shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on said shaft, a drivingelement, a gear train including gears for driving said shaft from saiddriving element, a power spring for rotating said driving element, anactuating member operable from one position to a second position torotate sa'd driving element, without rotating said shaft, thereby tostore energy in said spring, a latching element cooperating with one ofthe gears of said train to restrain said shaft in a predeterminedangular position during such rotation of said driving element, meanscomprising said actuating member for operating said latching element torelease said gear train only when said actuating member is operated tosaid second position and released, whereby said shaft is driven by saidspring through said driving element and said gear train, a secondlatching element cooperating with a second of the gears included in saidgear train, a

means including said second latching element for restraining said firstnamed latching element in its operated position, a switching device, andmeans including said second latching element for operating saidswitching device from one of its two positions to the other.

8. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of disks mounted on said shaft, adriving element, a gear train including gears for driving said shaftfrom said driving element, a power spring for rotating said drivingelement, an actuating member operable from one position to a secondposition to rotate said driving element, without rotating said shaft,thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching element cooperatingwith one of the gears of said train to restrain said shaft in apredetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is operated to said second position, whereby said shaft is drivenby said spring through said driving element and said gear train, asecond latching element cooperating with a second of the gears includedin said gear train, means including said second latching element forrestraining said first named latching element in its operated position,a switching device operable between two positions, means including saidsecond latching element for operating said switching device from one ofits two positions to the other, a carriage relatively movable withrespect to said disks and including a first member having teeth along anedge thereof, a control element carried by said carriage and adapted tobe selectively associated with said control disks for actuation thereby,a second member associated with said first member and having teeth alongan edge thereof, means for normally maintaining the teeth of said secondmember disengaged from the teeth of said first member and for releasingsaid second member to permit engagement between the teeth of said firstand second members during the initial movement of said actuating memberfrom its said second position to its first position, and means includingsaid second member for locking said carriage against movement duringrotation of said driven shaft.

9. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, means including an actuating member operable between twopositions for imparting rotary movement to said shaft, a carriage relatively movable with respect to said disks and including a first memberhaving teeth along a projecting edge thereof, a control element carriedby said carriage and adapted to be selectively associated with saidcontrol disks for actuation thereby, a second member associated withsaid first member and having teeth along an edge thereof, saidsecondmember normally being restrained to a position such that the teeththereof are disengaged from the teeth of said first member and beingreleased during the initial movement of said actuating member from oneof its two positions to the other to engage the teeth of said first andsecond members, and means including said second member for locking saidcarriage against movement during rotation of said shaft.

10. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of circuit controllingelements, and means including a control member arranged to cooperatewithany selected one of said disks for operating said circuitcontrolling elements, each of said disks having an active portion and anon-active portion and being so constructed and arranged relative tosaid circuit'controlling elements that when the disk is rotated to bringthe non-active portion thereof effectively into cooperation with saidcontrol member a first and a second of said circuit controlling elementsare moved to their normal positions, when the disk is rotated to bringthe active portion thereof effectively into cooperation with saidcontrol member said first circuit controlling element is moved from itsnormal position to its off-normal position, and when the disk is furtherrotated with its active portion in continued cooperation with saidcontrol member said second circuit controlling element is moved from itsnormal position to its off-normal position without returning said firstcircuit controlling element to its normal position.

11. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of circuit controllingelements, and means including a control member arranged to cooperatewith any selected one of said disks for operating said circuitcontrolling elements, each of said disks having an active portion of oneradius and a nonactive portion of a greater radius and being providedwith camming depressions along its active portion arranged to cooperatewith said control member to operate said circuit controlling elements,the radius of the active portion of each disk being so related to theradius of its nonactive portion and to said circuit controlling elementsthat when the disk is rotated to bring the non-active portion thereofeffectively into cooperation with said control member a first and asecond of said second controlling elements are moved to their normalpositions, when the disk is rotated to bring the active portion thereofeffectively into cooperation with said control member said first circuitcontrolling element is moved from its normal position to its off-normalposition, and when the disk is further rotated with its active portionin continued cooperation with said control member said second circuitcontrolling element is moved from its normal position to its off-normalposition without returning said first circuit controlling element to itsnormal position.

rotation of said driving element, means 'comprising said actuatingmember for operating said latching element to release said shaft onlywhen said actuating member is fully operated to said second position andreleased, whereby said shaft is driven by said spring through saiddriving element, said last-named means being operative to hold saidlatching element in its operated position only during thepreliminary-movement .of said shaft, additional means for holding saidlatching element in its operating position until said shaft is returnedto its predetermined angu-. lar position, a switching device operablebetween two positions, and means including said last named means foroperating said switching device from one of its two positions to theother.

13. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control discs mounted on saidshaft, a driving element, a gear train including gears for driving saidshaft from said driving element, a power spring for rotating saiddriving element, an actuating member operable from'one position to asecond position to rotate said driving element, without rotating saidshaft, thereby to store energy in said spring, a latching elementcooperating with said gear train to restrain said shaft in apredetermined angular position during such rotation of said drivingelement, means comprising said actuating member for operating saidlatching element to release said gear train only when said actuatingmember is operated to said second position and released, whereby saidshaft is driven by said spring through said driving element and saidgear train, a second latching element cooperating with said gear train,and means including said second latching element for restraining saidfirst-named latching element in its operated position.

14. A mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted on saidshaft, means including an actuating member operable between twopositions for imparting rotary movement to said shaft, a carriagerelatively movable with respect to said disks and including a firstmember having teeth along a projecting edge thereof, a control elementcarried by said carriage and adapted to be selectively associated withsaid control disks for actuation thereby, a second member having teethalong an edge thereof, said second member normally being restrained in apredetermined position such that the teeth thereof are disengaged fromthe teeth of said first member and being released during the initialmovement of said actuating member from one of its two positions to theother for movement to engage the teeth of said first and second members,means including said second member for locking said carriage againstmovement during rotation of said shaft, and means controlled whenrotation of said shaft is arrested for returning said second member toits predetermined position, thereby to unlock said carriage formovement.

15. A mechanism foruse in an impulse transmitting device comprising, incombination, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of control disks mounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of circuit controllingelements, and means including a control member arranged to cooperatewith any selected one of said disks for operating said circuitcontrolling elements, each of said disks having an active portion and anon-active portion and being so constructed and arranged relative tosaid circuit controlling elements that when the disk is rotated to bringthe non-active portion thereof effectively into cooperation with saidcontrol member a first and a second of said circuit controlling elementsare moved to their normal positions, when the disk is rotated to bringthe active portion thereof effectively into cooperation with saidcontrol member said first circuit controlling element is moved from itsnormal position to its off-normal position, and when the disk is furtherrotated with its active portion in continued cooperation with saidcontrol member said second circuit controlling element is successivelymoved between its normal position and its off-normal position withoutreturning said first circuit controlling element to its normal position.

16. In a mechanism for use in an impulse transmitting device comprising,incombination, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of control disks mountedon said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of circuit controllingelements, and means including a control member arranged to cooperatewith any selected one of said disks for operating said circuitcontrolling elements, each of said di'sks having a non-active portionand an active portion including a number of projections spaced apartbyiintervening depressions, the radius of the projections on the activeportion of said disk being intermediate the radius of the non-activeportion of said disk and the radius of the depressions in the activeportion of said disk, the non-active and active portions of said diskbeing arranged to cooperate with said control member to operate saidcircuit controlling elements, each of said disks and said circuitcontrolling elements being so constructed and arranged that when any oneof said disks is rotated to bring the non-active portion thereofeffectively into cooperation with said control member a first and asecond of said circuit controlling elements are moved to their normalpositions, when the disk is rotated to bring one of the projections onthe active portion thereof effectively into cooperation with saidcontrol member said first circuit controlling element is moved from itsnormal position to its off-normal position while said second circuitcontrollin element is retained in its normal-position. and when the diskis rotated to bring one of the depressions in-the active portion thereofeffectively into cooperation with said control member said secondcircuit controlling element is moved from its normal position toitsoff-normal position while said first circuit controlling element isretained in its oil-normal position.

- HANS SENGEBUSCH.

